bruce johnson

Blake, Pictures of some of Richard Fletcher's plates and the impressions can be seen on his website (www.leathertool.com). His pictures are probably better than I can do. I bought several plates off ebay when he was running specials to raise money for new equipment. I have bought some directly from him, and bought about 20 or so at the Sheridan show. He has them is several sizes from belt flowers and leaves up to 3inch or so. The custom Delrin flower I had him do ran me about $80, I think. The others were in sets from $10-20 per plate on the specials. The big plus for these plates is the speed and consistancy. I did an emergency oak and acorn belt for my son in less than an hour stamping time total. Stamped in the leaves and acorns, cut in the stems, and tooled and backgrounded. The Delrin plates work better for me in the press (a shop press), The cast plates I use a maul held vertically on the plate (head side down the spread the blow), and hit the handle end with another maul. I also have a pretty good selection of tapoffs, and they have their place too. I am working up patterns that incorporate the cutting plates and stem work into a tapoff for corners, crosses, and the like. Hope this helps. Bruce Johnson

I forgot about one other maker of cutting plates in my previous post. Harper Manufacturing in Las Vegas, NV has some listed on their website. I have not used their's nor no of anyone who has. Several have their maker stamps and are very happy. \ On a sad note, I have just heard from two different sources that Mitch Botts passed away. He was one of, or the, principal behind Gore Tools along with Jay Lynn Gore. I mentioned them in the previous post. Bruce Johnson

I have used several tap offs for quite a few years. Have also followed this thread regarding making your own out of other materials, and references to the Gore tool ones. A few considerations. The Gore tool referred to are not tapoffs, they are cutting plates. Tapoffs leave a line to cut with the swivel knife. The cutting plates actully cut the line, much like a cookie cutter. The lines are raised to a depth that allows the outline to cut onto the leather. Tapoffs are recessed and leave a raised line to cut,actually they depress the leather around the line. I have had cutting plates from Gore, traded them off a few years ago. I currently have a lot of plates from Richard Fletcher. He casts them, and has several "stock" flowers, leaves, and a few silhouettes. He has done some custom ones for me out of laser engraved Delrin. The plates from Richard do not have handles. They are designed to be used with a press or tapped with a mallet. The plates with handles tend to break at the joint of handle and plate if the plate is very large. Besides, Richard, Jeff Mosby in SC makes plates also, although I believe only Delrin at this stage, no casting. Bruce Johnson

For leather, Skirting - Siegel of California Lining and Chap leather - Siegel of California lighter weight tooling leather - Hide House in Napa For tools, Osborne - Siegel of California Stamping tools - Hide Crafters, Barry King, Wayne Jueschke French edgers/Round Bottom Edgers - Jeremiah Watt (Horseshoe Brand tools) Sewing machine thread and supplies - Ferdco!! Hardware - Weaver, Walsall, Tandy/TLF Silver - Hansens Western Gear/Hansens Silver Monel Stirrups - Trina Weber (Weber Stirrups) Saddle Trees - Quality Manufacturing/Timberline That is my short list!! - Bruce Johnson

I am Bruce Johnson, and am seeing a lot of familiar names here. I know some of you by sight, and others through the net. I have attached a picture of me, so if you see someone who looks this, Just say Hi. I have been doing leatherwork as a side business for about 16 years. I have evolved from checkbook covers and personal goods to saddles. I still do about everyting western related, but the saddles are starting to take a bigger share. I pretty much have a part time business that is full time. -Bruce Johnson